The biological approach to aggression includes the belief that genetic factors play a role in aggressive behaviour and lies within an individual’s genetic make-up. There is supporting evidence of a genetic component of aggression. Psychologists have looked at twin studies to try and find evidence for a genetic basis o compare the degree of similarity of aggression between sets of monozygotic (MZ) twins and dizygotic (DZ) twins. In general it was found that aggressive behaviour is more highly correlated in MZ twins than DZ twins. For example, Gottesman found a concordance rate of 87% for aggressive behaviour for MZ twin pairs, compared with 72% for DZ twin pairs. However, solely relying on evidence from twin studies can be problematic as it is hard to disentangle nature and nurture. It has been suggested that MZ twins are treated more alike and share more similar environments than DZ twins due to them acting more like 'one' person rather than two separate people. This may affect how alike they are and how likely they both are to express aggression. However, there are gender differences involved in twin studies. Button et al studies 258 twin pairs and found that both aggressive and non-aggressive antisocial behaviour are subjected to significant gender differences. The heritability of aggressive antisocial behaviour was significantly higher in girls than boys, suggesting a stronger genetic effect on aggression in females than in males. Adoption studies can help to disentangle the relative contributions of the environment and genetics. If researchers find a greater similarity in levels of aggression between adopted children and biological parents than between their adoptive parents, it suggests genetics are an important influence. The Danish study by Mednick reviewed over 14000 adoptions in Denmark and found a significant positive correlation between the number of criminal convictions for criminal violence among biological parents and their adopted songs, thus...

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The use of twin studies helps explain how there could be geneticfactors in aggressive behavior. There are two types of Twin, monozygotic (identical) and Dizygotic (non-identical). If both types are studied in terms of aggression and the M-Z twins are more similar in aggressive behaviour it would suggest there is a...

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Discuss geneticfactors involved in aggressive behaviour.
The gene MAOA may be associated with aggressive behaviour. It is responsbile for breaking down neurotransmitters such as noradrenaline and dopamine after they have transmitted an impulse from one cell to another. The lower the MAOA gene,means that the more aggressive the behaviour as dopamine and noradrealine is accumulated in their bodies.
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The biological explanation for aggression states that aggression is innate behavior in people and the environment around them does not cause it. Neurotransmitters in the brain, chemicals that allow impulses to be transmitted from one area to another, can be used to explain why some people are aggressive. There is evidence to suggest that the...

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One biological explanation for the cause of phobic disorders suggests that we can relate it back to our genetics. This theory values the ‘nature’ side in the nature vs nurture debate. This theory uses twin studies to try and separate geneticfactors from environmental factors in order to draw a causal conclusion between genetics and phobias. If a closer...

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Early research concentrated on chromosomal abnormalities but no specific genotype has been associated with aggression. Genes determine how much testosterone a person’s body produces and how quickly it circulates around their body. Genes also determine the synthesis of testosterone receptors, and how many and how sensitive such receptors are. The gene called monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) produces an enzyme...

...One gene which has been linked to aggression is the gene coding for the production of monoamine oxidise A (MAOA). Brunner et al 1993 studied the men in a family with a tradition of violent men, they discovered that the gene responsible for producing the enzyme MAOA may be associated with aggressive behaviour. The normal gene that makes an enzyme which metabolises hormones and neurotransmitters (including adrenaline and noradrenaline). With a mutated gene there is less enzymes...

...responses if deemed socially acceptable in their environment. But is there an underlying genetic basis for violence and aggression? In some very real sense violence is embodied in the human genetic/evolutionary legacy due to its recurrent manifestation in our species and our history. So is there a biological reason for this?
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...nurture occurrence of aggression had been going on for centuries. Psychologist had not found any strong evidence supporting either one of the approach. Looking deeply into aggression, we can say that there are 2 main types of aggression, which are instrumental and hostile aggression (Peter Mitchell & Fenja Ziegler, 2013). Instrumental aggression is referring to someone acting aggressively to achieve a certain goal....